Improved machine for tanning



luidt l mm1 tent @time Letters Patent'Na 87,298, dated Februa/ry 23, 1869.

IMPRCVED'MACHINE FOR TANNING, FULLING, AND CLEANSING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of theA same.

Toall whom it 'may concer/n:

Beit known that I, CHRISTIAN SCHMITZ, of the cityI and county of Philadelphia-,in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Machine for Fullingand Tanning Hides and Skins; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and` exact description of the same, sufficient tofenable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, to fully understand and l use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, making part of this specification. and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine, one side of the framing being removed.

Figure 2 is a top view of the same, the rotary box being shown in section through the line a: x, iig. l,

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both iigures.

My'invention has for its object to facilitate the process of fulling and tanning hides and skins by so constructing the machine as to produce a complete result in an unusually short time.

To eii'ect these results, I mount diagonally upon a suitable frame-'work a rhomboidal-shaped box, which contains the hides, and is rotated by suitable gearing, antbliaving itsl sides, on their inner surface, provided with a number of projections.

This box is provided with journals, one of which is made hollow, to permit the introduction of water and steam, as will hereinafter be more'fully described.

In the accompanying drawings- A A represent a suitable'frame-work for the supw port of a rhomboidal box, B.

This latter has frame-work A. f

I prefer to make this box B of oak wood, it being generally less porous than other wood, but it may be journals, a al, which rest upon the A made of copper, lead, or any other non-corrosive metal.

To the sides of this box, on the interior thereof,I attach small pieces of wood, forming projections, c, as plainly shown in iig. 2.

These projections are bevelled or rounded on their outer surface, and have smooth sides, so as not to catch or takeA hold of the skins or hides.

In case heavy hides are' to be treated, it would be advisable to insert pins between the projections c.

I prefer th-at these latter shall not be less than two inches in length, nor exceed six inches in height. They are arranged as shown in the drawing, and should he placed about six inches apart.

The object of .these projecting pins and blocks is to allowthe'water or tanning-stuff to pass through, and also to assist in what is called breaking and softening the skins or hides. f

In the sides of the box are openings, D, over each of which isplaced a perforated metal plate.

These openings have covers, d.

The object of these openings is to let the iiuid or water runvout during the process of tanning, or thereafter. j

allow the introduction of the skins, as well as to facilitate the cleaning of thefbox.

I A door, F, which, when closed by suitable means, (as covering the inside thereof withlfelting, rubber, or other water-proof material,) prevents the escape of the contents of the box, covers saidopening.

One of the journals a ofthe box is made hollow, and with it is connected a branch-pipe, a". f

Through the journals, for instance, steaml may be introduced, and simultaneously therewith water may be forced through the branch-pipe into the rotary box. The operation is as follows:

The tanning-Huid andthe hides to be treated are first introduced into the box B, vand the door closed. Said box B is now setinmotion by any suitable means. I have shown a cog-wheel, F1, mounted upon-one of the journals of the box, engaging with a pinion, G, on

respectively. A belt is placed over the fixed pulley, which shall receive motion in any convenient manner,

box B. However, I do not confine myself to this pel# culiar mode of causing the revolution of the box, for,

perhaps, equally good effect. During the revolution of the box, the hides therein contained are always in motion, on account of the peculiar form of the box, and thusthehides or skins are prevented from being thrown or water, or both, may be forced into the box, through the hollow journal and its branch, at any time during the operation.

After the hides have been suiiiciently treated, the

- covers Z are drawn away from the openings and the water is allowed to flow off.

The hides are then takemout from the box and are ready for the vfinishing-process.

This machine can also be used for greasing waxskins o'rupper leather, which has been performedhere- Atofore only by hand. In this case, as also in tanning, steam only is introduced into the box'.

whether tanned or untanned, with or without hair; and one of the prominent advantages of its use is the doing away with the inconveniencesincident'to the old way of falling. Y

In the fulling-troughs now generally in use, the skins vfall from the top to the bottom without making the whole revolution, really turning but one-half the dise tance,'while by my invention the skins, being. in constant motion, strike the six sides of the box, and are thereby completely turned, and are prevented from heaping together, as in the old mode. The work is thus done better, and'also quicker and cheaper.

An opening, E, is made in one side of the box, to'V the axis of which is a xcd and a' loose pulley, H H,

by Iand or other power, and communicates it to the as before stated, other means may be substituted with,V

together. Thus each'hide is thoroughly worked. Steam This machine can be used for all kinds of leather, I

The simplicity,I praetioability, and usefulness of my machine are its main recommendations.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as` new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A rotan-y box, mounted diagonally on a framing, and having its sides, on the interior, provided with projeotions, substantially as herein shown and described, for the purposes' specified.

2. Providing the rotary box with hollow journal,

for the introduction of steam and water, substantially its herein described.

3. The machine for tanning, fulling, and cleansing, constructed and operating substantially as herein described.

To the above, I havesigned, this 10th day of Deoember, 1868.

Witnesses: CHRISTIAN SCHMITZ.

W; A. WIEDERSHEIM, H. M. WIEDERSHEIM. 

